What Does Botox Do to Your Body?
Botox is one of the most common cosmetic and medical procedures performed in the United States each year. People choose or are prescribed Botox for numerous reasons including the elimination of wrinkles and lines to treating migraines. If you’ve been considering Botox or have been recommended to get Botox, it is important to understand what it is and what it does. Read on to learn more about Botox and what it does to your body.
What is Botox?
Botox is a drug made from a neurotoxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum called botulinum toxin. It is naturally occurring in soil, forests, and even the intestinal tracts of mammals and fish. In large doses, the toxin is extremely dangerous. In small doses administered by a trained medical professional, the toxin can have side effects that are beneficial to a person’s health.
Why Would Someone Get Botox?
Botox is used for primarily cosmetic and health related purposes. For cosmetic purposes, Botox is used primarily to smooth wrinkles. For medical purposes, Botox has numerous uses including treating migraines, stopping spasms in specific muscles, treating skin disorders, and many others.
What Does Botox Do to Your Body?
Botox works by affecting the neuromuscular system. It is injected into the desired area and works to paralyze the nerves in the area. Once the nerves are blocked in the targeted muscle area, the muscle can no longer contract. No matter how much the brain tells it to, the muscle is unable.
This has numerous effects. For cosmetic purposes, this causes the wrinkles, creases, or lines to relax and smooth out. It also helps prevent new wrinkles, creases, or lines to form while the Botox is working in the muscle. For medical purposes, it can target the specific muscle and cause it to relax. Depending on the medical issue it is trying to solve, this can alleviate the symptoms of the issue.
One of the benefits of Botox as a treatment is that it remains localized. This means that it does not enter the blood stream and travel through your body. It also does not cause a numbing effect because it targets the nerves that control movement instead of the ones that control feeling.
Are There Any Risks to My Body?
There are a few potential side effects that are important to be aware of. Although the Botox remains localized, it can migrate a few centimeters away from the injection site. In rare cases, this can cause areas to be paralyzed that were not intended to do so. It also can result in some localized swelling or redness after the injection, but this typically only lasts a few days.
What is the Bottom Line?
The bottom line is that Botox is safe and has many uses that can positively impact your body and health. Its primary effect on your body is that it paralyzes the nerves that control muscle movement where it is injected. This usually lasts several months. If you have more questions or concerns about Botox and are wondering if it is right for you, speak with a medical professional today.